The Costs of Commitment
When thinking of moral courage in the context of political life, I have at times imagined a bold politician refusing to support unjust laws. I could see someone who, like Eliot Richardson in those Watergate days, would step down from high office rather than execute the will of a superior who was dem
College Students and Conversion
Each year hundreds of thousands of students from more than 400 colleges and universities complete the Freshman Survey of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP), sponsored by the Higher Education Research Institute at U.C.L.A. Students are queried about demographic factors, academic an
The Academic Mandatum
At the U.S. Catholic bishops meeting in November 2000, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati reported on the progress made by the committee he chairs to draft guidelines concerning the academic mandatum in Catholic universities. The five-bishop committee has been assisted by four consultants app
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
Avery Dulles became a Roman Catholic in 1940 when he was a first-year student at the Harvard Law School. Two years later, he was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and served on submarine chasers and aircraft carriers patrolling Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. For his liaiso
Letters
Letters
Peculiar Concepts
Valerie Schultz (Renew the Face of the Earth! 1/8) should not be amazed at the outrageous attack the journal Crisis made about the Renew program. It is par for the course. Any time a work in the church, no matter how fine it may be, does not fit into their peculiar definition of Catholic,…
Editorials
Still Hungry, Still Homeless
One might think that last year’s particularly strong economy would have led to a reduction in the number of requests for emergency food and shelter. In fact, however, the year 2000 actually saw a rise in both areas. This was among the sad findings of the United States Conference of Mayors&rsqu
Faith in Focus
Lifelines
When I was about six years old, my dad took me to Alamitos bay for a day of sailing with an old shipyard buddy. As we came about on the last tack to approach the float in front of his house, my dad’s friend suggested that I go overboard, and he would throw the mooring…
Books
Multiplying Meaning
John Thiel who teaches at Fairfield University in Connecticut has already published books on authority as well as the debate over foundationalism Now he argues for a more complex appreciation of the meaning and dynamics of tradition As patristic and medieval theology recognized multiple senses i
Covenant and Community
My initial exposure to the theology of Rosemary Radford Ruether took place as I studied for my master rsquo s in theology After reading Sexism and God-Talk I remember thinking how grateful I was for her scholarship her theological clarity and her courage to rethink systematics in light of women r
Vision, Skills, Action
Yves Congar observed in Tradition and Traditions that the Christian tradition is a process as well as a content It involves agents who hand something on to recipients who in turn become agents of what they have received Although Congar shed light on this complicated phenomenon he left much unsai
Film
Wily Brothers: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Sullivan’s Travels, the Preston Sturges movie from 1941, tells the story of John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), not the boxer, but a Hollywood director of highly successful light comedies. He is determined to change his image by adapting a ponderous social-message novel entitled O Brother, Where A
Poetry
State of Refugees: after listening to an NPR broadcast
after listening to an NPR broadcast
Out of busses; water-
The Word
Weal or Woe
quot Cursed rdquo be the one who trusts in human beings ldquo the wicked rdquo are like chaff that the wind drives away and ldquo Woe rdquo to you who are rich and filled now Harsh words for a Sunday in grey February In Luke rsquo s Sermon on the Plain in contrast to…
Faith
True Solidarity
Representatives from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States met at Santa Clara University on Oct. 5-8, 2000, to discuss justice in Jesuit higher education. It was the 25th anniversary of the historic commitment made by the Society of Jesus at its 32nd General Congregation, held
News
Signs of the Times
Pope John Paul II Names 37 Cardinals Pope John Paul II announced on Jan. 21 the appointment of 37 new cardinals, 33 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in the next conclave. This brings the number of cardinal electors to 128, the highest number in history, shattering the…
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts